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What Cats Want Us to Know About Cats (As Taught to Us by Our 1001 Foster Cats and Kittens)

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What Cats Want Us to Know About Cats (As Taught to Us by Our 1001 Foster Cats and Kittens) WHAT CATS WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT CATS (AS TAUGHT TO US BY OUR 1001 FOSTER CATS AND KITTENS) SOUTHERN COUNTIES RESCUE ADOPTION PACKAGE Southern Counties Rescue - Cats & Kittens Serving Orange, Imperial & San Diego Counties www.southerncountiesrescue.org BOARD MEMBERS-VOLUNTEERS Linda Walliss Phyllis Elijah Julie Parlett 949.768.5390 323.394.0954 714.756.0679 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] If questions or you cannot keep a kitty you adopted from us for ANY reason please contact one of us listed above. View our website at: http://www.southerncountiesrescue.org to see our kitties available for adoption and other useful information under RESOURCES, such as How to Pill a Cat... Southern Counties Rescue Inc. Serving Orange, Imperial & San Diego Counties PO Box 1399, Brawley, CA 92227 [email protected] Visit us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SouthernCountiesRescue CONTENTS AT A GLANCE INTRODUCING NEW KITTY TO YOUR HOME .............................................5 INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO NEW KITTY ................................................6 FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RESCUE ..............................................7 SHOPPING LIST ..................................................................................................8 What Your Kitty Needs Besides Love ...........................................................9 CAT PROOFING YOUR HOME ....................................................................... 10 INTRODUCING YOUR NEW CAT TO YOUR PETS ......................................12 Cats NEED WET FOOD ...................................................................................14 Catkins DIET (FOR CHUBBY cats) ...........................................................18 Cats NEED Water ..........................................................................................22 BITING AND Scratching ............................................................................25 HOW to MANAGE YOUR Cat AND ITS Claws........................................26 Cat Scratchers (Examples) ...........................................................................27 Trimming Your CAT’s Claws .......................................................................28 Important Information about Declawing .....................................................29 Declawing: Another Veterinarian’s Perspective ...........................................31 Beating BOREDON ........................................................................................34 Creating the Purrfect Haven ........................................................................35 LITTER BOXS (ISSUES & EXAMPLES) .........................................................38 Solving Litter Box Problems, Part 1 & Part 2 .............................................39 MOVING WITH YOUR CAT .............................................................................45 CARE FOR YOUR PETS FOR LIFE, THEIR LIFE ..........................................46 What YOUR Cat MISSES BY NOT GOING OUTDOORS ..........................49 Poisonous Plants ......................................................................................... 50 The Rising Threat of Coyotes ......................................................................51 FINDING YOUR LOST Cat .............................................................................53 Ways to Protect Your Cat .............................................................................55 Cat Health 101: WHEN to VISIT THE VET ..............................................56 How to Save Money at the Vet’s Office .......................................................57 VET Recommendations - ORANGE COUNTY AREA ............................58 Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinics ................................................................ 60 favorite cat related WEBSITES ...........................................................61 ABOUT SOUTHERN COUNTIES RESCUE .....................................................62 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This manual is a compilation of years of doing cat rescue and a lot of reading about cats on the internet. Much of it I compiled from the knowledge of my fellow rescue enthusiasts in Kitten Rescue, Los Angeles while I was active with them for over 11 years prior to starting Southern Counties Rescue. When you place a cat or kitten into a new home you want it to have every chance of suc- ceeding so you write handouts for the new adopter telling them what to expect in the first week, how to introduce their new cat or kitten to their children, what to feed and on and on. Soon you have a book of knowledge about cats and kittens. I am also grateful for the wonderful vets who share their extensive knowledge on the inter- net just to make like better and healthier for cats. Much of the basis of these articles come from the Internet. And my own personal vets who will answer question after question for me, all to help the kitties. I want to thank Catnip Newsletter created by Tufts University, Cummings School of Vet- erinary Medicine for writing and publishing such easy to read but thorough articles on all issues important to cats. They accept no advertisements from companies who make cat products so they have no conflict of interest when they rate food, litter, toys and other cat products. It’s like a Consumer Guide for cats. They also share the latest information on cat health problems and solutions, good topics to discuss with your vet. If you only subscribe to one cat publication I highly recommend Catnip. Go to this website, http://www.tuftscatnip. com/ to subscribe. I have personally placed over 850 cats and kittens into new homes and have been involved with the rescue of over a 1200 cats and kittens. Before I started in Rescue I though I knew cats, after all I was a cat owner for 15 years but I realized I didn’t know cats at all. From everyone of these critters I have learned something, no two are alike. They all have their own personality and they may or may not adjust to their new home the same way. With rescue kitties patience is a must. A very sincere thank you goes out to my fellow volunteers who have suffered with sick kitties and dying kitties, huge vet bills, unpaid personal bills, all to help these kitties find a forever home. And last but not least a very big THANK YOU to everyone who adopts from Rescue giving one more kitty a forever home. Phyllis Elijah, President Southern Counties Rescue Saving Cats and Kittens One at a Time. INTRODUCING NEW KITTY TO YOUR HOME What to Expect of Your New Pet in the Next Week The first 24-48 hours your new cat spends in your home are very crucial. Please follow these guidelines to reduce the change of adjustment problems. Please remember you are placing your pet in new surroundings with unfamiliar sights and smells. Different furniture and eating places will add to its confusion. Your cat may be disoriented, frightened by sudden movements, loud noises, and even the threat of another animal. If you have other pets this is especially important. ISOLATION DO NOT PUT COLLARS ON KITTENS UNDER 5 LBS! We strongly recommend isolating a new cat in a room with minimal hiding places (such as a bathroom) for the first 1-2 days. Provide the cat with its very own toys, bed, litterbox and bowls of food and water in that room (bathrooms are ideal because there are no hiding places you can’t reach). One more suggestion—put clothing that has been worn by the family members in there with the kitty—get them use to the smells. HEALTH WATCH Vomiting, diarrhea and eye/nose discharge can occur during a cat’s transition to a new home due to the stress of a change in environment and/or change in diet. If these symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, however, please contact us or a veterinarian. WARNING SIGNS • Blood in the stool • Loss of appetite • Fever • Excessive diarrhea • Lethargy • Difficulty breathing • Excessive nose discharge and sneezing • Excessive vomiting SPEAK SOFTLY… MOVE SLOWLY… STROKE GENTLY! • Visiting the cat often will help him/her bond to you without being overwhelmed by a new environment right away. Introduce family members and friends slowly and one-at-a-time. Your cat will not hate you and is not being deprived by being closed in a single room. It’s vital that you give your new family member some time in an enclosed area to develop a sense of security and to appreciate you. You’re the best thing that happens in your cat’s day—don’t feel guilty! After the isolation period allow the cat access to more and more of your home. Hiding, skittishness and meowing is normal during the adjustment period. It usually takes a few weeks or more for a cat to feel settled in a new home. Animals respond to threatening situations by “shutting down” for a period of time. It may not eat, miss the litterbox, or even have diarrhea. Let your new cat or kitten sleep a lot. However, if this behavior continues for more than a few days, call the foster parent from whom you adopted. Feed her/him familiar food in frequent, small doses. This teaches the pet that you’ll love and care for it. Only feed a high quality food. REASSURE! While feeding your cat, talk softly and gently—repeating the pet’s new name. If the cat is comfortable with it, try soft stroking or scratching on the back of the neck. When you think your pet is ready, for instance it tries to follow you out the door (not to get away but to be with you). Then allow it to explore new surroundings by opening the door and allowing it to investigate nearby rooms.
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